Caramel Apple Muffins

October 21 is Caramel Apple Day. So I'm going to share a recipe for Caramel Apple Muffins! I found this recipe on the Taste of Home website, but I modified it slightly to reduce the amount of sugar.

Here's what you need:

2 cups flour (I use half unbleached white, half wheat)
1/2 cup sugar
2 teas baking powder
2 teas cinnamon
1/2 teas salt
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teas vanilla extract
1/2 cup diced apple
12 caramels, coarsely chopped

For the topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cups quick oats
3 TBSP melted butter
1 teas cinnamon

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.


In another bowl, mix together the egg, milk, oil and vanilla. Stir into the dry ingredients just until moistened. Don't overmix, because that will cause your muffins to not rise.



Gently stir in the apples and caramels.



Fill paper-lined muffin cups with the batter. Combine the topping ingredients and spoon over the muffin.


Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in a muffin comes out clean. The topping will get all melty and gooey, as will the caramels. Let cool in the pan for a few minutes, then move to a wire rack.


We loved these muffins because they had all the flavors of a caramel apple without the sticky mess. Enjoy!